Drill Weekend

Another exciting Drill Weekend! Well, I may be over exaggerating a little bit...Thought I would fill in those followers who have no clue what could go on during a national guard weekend. After a long month of our annual training in August, followed by the week of the Republican National Convention, there is actually many things for recovery we have to get completed in just two days. Soldiers on active duty get a week to do what we have to do in just two days.

Weapons maintenance is one of our first and main priorities. Of course, because without a functioning weapon how could you be a soldier...right? Along with the maintenance and cleaning of our weapons, we have to make sure they are still working properly an annotate any new deficiencies that may have aroused. To accomplish this task and other key equipment, It could possibly take up a whole day.

Another set of task, when we are not out in the field training, we have mandatory administrative stuff to complete. This is what we usually called "death by powerpoint." This month was mandatory sexual harrasment prevention training. I know you are wondering why we have to do this. Well, to be honest with you, every soldier does need sexual harrassment prevention training. It happens more than you would think in the military and not just guy assaulting girls either. It is a simple online course that you can complete on your own time but unfortunately some soldiers like to wait until the last minute.  I was personally task to walk soldiers through this tedious tutorial to help them enroll and complete the course. Sometimes the adminstrative stuff can be a hassle but still a very important key task that, even though are monotonous, are very beneficial and well needed.

To conclude this past weekend training, it definately was not one of my favorite drill weekends but overall a lot was accomplished. Sometimes people do wonder and ask me what we really do on drill weekends. Well, your taxes are not being wasted, we actually train hard and accomplish many tasks as you can see from above. Included from above but not limited too, field training, hurricane support, and overseas deployments, despite to popular belief, the national guard does work. Until next drill weekend...